Hi Alister
I've had eye surgery and laser three times, but for non-diabetics reasons. Never had any pain. The laser didn't hurt. In an odd way it felt (although that's the wrong word) like when you eat popping candy, just strange and odd but not nasty.
With just the laser I can't remember being blind for any time at all, just very blurry from drops.
With my big surgery I had to stay in for a few hours but that mainly because the theatre lights caused me a major migraine (I am very light sensitive).
Put it this way, I've given birth, and had kidney stones , a thyroidectomy and 2 knee operations. In comparison eye surgery is a doodle, walk in, walk out, no pain. Easier than a filling at the dentist!